timber development organizations

timber development organizations Sec. 204. (a) In order that the region shall more fully benefit from the timber stands that are one of its prime assets, the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to— (1) provide technical assistance in the organization and operation, under State law, of private timber development organizations having as their objective the carrying out of timber development programs to improve timber productivity and quality, and increase returns to landowners through establishment of private nonprofit corporations, which on a self-supporting basis may provide (A) continuity of management, good cutting practices, and marketing services, (B) physical consolidation of small holdings or administrative consolidation for efficient management under long-term agreement, (C) management of forest lands, donated to the timber development organizations for demonstrating good forest management, on a profitable and taxpaying basis, and (D) establishment of a permanent fund for perpetuation of the work of the corporations to be composed of donations, real or personal, for educational purposes. (2) provide not more than one-half of the initial capital requirements of such timber development organizations through loans under the applicable provisions of the Consolidated Farmers Home Administration Act of 1961 (7 U.S.C. 1926 et seq.). Such loans shall not be used for the construction or acquisition of facilities for manufacturing, processing, or marketing forest products, or for physical consolidation of small timber holdings authorized by (1)(B) above except for the establishment of demonstration units. (b) Not to exceed $5,000,000 of the funds authorized in section 401 of this Act shall be available to carry out this section.